One of a collection of fourteen items of protective wear and household textiles donated by Lisa Sylvan, a long-term resident of Kew, Five of the items are homemade aprons made and worn by her mother. Of the seven pinafores, three identical but differently sized pinafores were made in her parents' factory, while the other three are handmade. The handmade aprons and pinafores are representative samples of women's work, possibly from published patterns, using fabrics originally deigned for dresses. Typically, contrasting fabrics and colours were selected to provide visual interest. The donation also includes a hand embroidered linen supper cloth and a commercially produced 'birds of Australia' printed table cloth. Most of the collection derives from the 1950s.Although not uncommon, hand-made protective clothing in the form of aprons and pinafores often represents samples and styles of 'women's work' using remnant fabrics often designed for other purposes. While generally utilitarian, women found means of gracing these items by the use brightly coloured fabric or patterns, the positioning of pockets and the use of contrasting fabrics to provide visual interest.Pinafore using a fabric coverd with an abstract design in bue, pink and yellow. A plain pink cotton fabric is used to decorate the pocket and the shoulders.Label: "Admiration / All Cotton"protective clothing, handmade clothing, costume accessories, lisa sylvan, pinafores, fashion design, women's clothing -- 1950s, fashion -- 1950s

Grace James, the creator of the items in the Grace James collection, designed and created costumes over a 19 year period (1969-1988) for her daughter Ceri. The collection of clothing ranges from evening wear to knitted garments. All the items display exemplary dressmaking skills. The designs are of the period and reflect evolving fashions of the time. Some items are copies of published designs whereas others are original creations. The collection was donated in 2006.While most of the items in the Fashion & Design Collection of the Kew Historical Society are commercially designed items of clothing, there are also items made by home dressmakers. Many of these exhibit outstanding design knowledge and technical skills. A large and important group of these items of women's clothing is contained in the Grace James collection of outfits created for the dressmaker's daughter. The items have additional significance due to information about the purpose of the creation and the date when it was constructed.Bridesmaid frock. Full length pink crepe with (at bride's request) two floating back panels. 1973grace james, women's clothing, dressmakers - surrey hills (vic), fashion -- 1970s, fashion design

Grace James, the creator of the items in the Grace James collection, designed and created costumes over a 19 year period (1969-1988) for her daughter Ceri. The collection of clothing ranges from evening wear to knitted garments. All the items display exemplary dressmaking skills. The designs are of the period and reflect evolving fashions of the time. Some items are copies of published designs whereas others are original creations. The collection was donated in 2006.While most of the items in the Fashion & Design Collection of the Kew Historical Society are commercially designed items of clothing, there are also items made by home dressmakers. Many of these exhibit outstanding design knowledge and technical skills. A large and important group of these items of women's clothing is contained in the Grace James collection of outfits created for the dressmaker's daughter. The items have additional significance due to information about the purpose of the creation and the date when it was constructed.Full length, heavy cream crepe with tie belt and lace overcoat grace james, women's clothing, dressmakers - surrey hills (vic), fashion -- 1970s, fashion design

Grace James, the creator of the items in the Grace James collection, designed and created costumes over a 19 year period (1969-1988) for her daughter Ceri. The collection of clothing ranges from evening wear to knitted garments. All the items display exemplary dressmaking skills. The designs are of the period and reflect evolving fashions of the time. Some items are copies of published designs whereas others are original creations. The collection was donated in 2006.While most of the items in the Fashion & Design Collection of the Kew Historical Society are commercially designed items of clothing, there are also items made by home dressmakers. Many of these exhibit outstanding design knowledge and technical skills. A large and important group of these items of women's clothing is contained in the Grace James collection of outfits created for the dressmaker's daughter. The items have additional significance due to information about the purpose of the creation and the date when it was constructed.Loosely knitted cream jumper with ribbed bands at the neck, cuffs and waist. The jumper is overlaid with the outline of stitched woollen butterflies. Coloured lines of wool are knitted into the body of the jumper. There is a drawstring at the waist to tighten it if requiredgrace james, women's clothing, australian fashion 1969-1988, dressmakers - surrey hills (vic), knitted jumpers, fashion design

Twelve page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features a woman wearing a green knitted cardigan, tartan hat and kilt.front: [printed] 894 / PRICE / CODE / D / Patons / H A N D K N I T S / in JET 12 PLY / PURE NEW WOOLfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons

Twelve page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features a woman wearing a knitted jumper.front: [printed] 7630 / PRICE / CODE / F / SIRDAR / H A N D K N I T S / THE SPICE COULOURS in / COUNTY OR COUNTY HILITES / SIRDARfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, sirdar

Four page knitting pattern booklet featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features an image of a man wearing brown shoes, brown corduroy pants and a cream knitted jumper.front: [printed] SIRDAR / Alpaca / Classique / 7430 / PRICE / CODE / Cfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, sirdar

Four page knitting pattern booklet featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features an image of a woman wearing a knitted jumper, corduroy skirt and tights.front: [printed] SIRDAR / Multi Yarns / 7427 / PRICE / CODE / Cfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, sirdar

Four page knitting pattern booklet featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features two images of the same woman dressed in different knitted tops.front: [printed] SIRDAR / Alpaca / Classique / 7431 / PRICE / CODE / Cfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, sirdar

Four page knitting pattern booklet featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features an image of a woman wearing a knitted cardigan.front: [printed] SIRDAR / Multi Yarns / 7426 / PRICE / CODE / Cfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, sirdar

Twelve page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features an image of a woman wearing long brown boots, tan corduroy pants and a cream knitted jumper.front: [printed] Swift & / Simple / SIRDAR / BOOK 523 / PRICE / CODE / Dfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, sirdar

Four page knitting pattern booklet featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features an image of a woman wearing a cream shirt and knitted cardigan in tones of brown.front: [printed] SIRDAR / Panache / 7417 / PRICE / CODE / Cfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, sirdar

Four page knitting pattern booklet featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features an image of a woman wearing red stockings, a black skirt and a knitted jumper.front: [printed] SIRDAR / Panache / 7411 / PRICE / CODE / Cfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, sirdar

Twenty six page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features an image of three children lying next to each other wearing knitted jumpers.front: [printed] 1097 / PRICE / CODE / J / Patons / 18 PICTURE KNITS / FOR PRE-SCHOOLERS / IN PATONS 8 PLYfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons

Four page knitting pattern booklet featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features two images of the same woman wearing different knitted tops.front: [printed] SIRDAR / DOUBLE CREPE / 7424 / PRICE / CODE / Cfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, sirdar

Four page knitting pattern booklet featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features an image of a woman wearing black pants and a knitted jumper.front: [printed] SIRDAR / Alpaca / Classique / 7386 / PRICE / CODE / Cfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, sirdar

Four page knitting pattern booklet featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features an image of a woman wearing stockings, socks and a knitted jumper.front: [printed] SIRDAR / Panache / 7410 / PRICE / CODE / Cfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, sirdar

Thirty six page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and graphics. The cover features an image of two women wearing matching knitted cardigans.front: [printed] 9917 / SIRDAR / THE ARAN LOOK / In SIRDAR SPORTS WOOL / 9 Design / 50 CENTS front: [handwritten] P G Walkerfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, sirdar

Eight page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features an image of the cartoon character Porky Pig.front: [printed] 1090 / Patons / PRICE CODE K / LOONEY TUNES TM / featuring / FOGHORN / LEGHORN TM / PORKY PIG TM / WILE E. / COYOTE TM / ROADRUNNER TM / 4 Knitting / patterns / for children and adults / BY GARY KENNEDY (INTARSIA UK) / TM & c Warner Bros. Inc. 1991. All Rights Reserved.fashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons

Eight page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features an image of Peanuts cartoon characters Charlie Brown and Lucy van Pelt.front: [printed] 1091 / Patons / PRICE CODE K / PEANUTS R / 4 Knitting / patterns / for children and adults / BY GARY KENNEDY (INTARSIA UK) / PEANUTS Characters: c 1950, 1952 United Features Syndicate, Inc.fashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons

Eight page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features an image of the cartoon character Bugs Bunny.front: [printed] 1008 / Patons / PRICE CODE K / Bugs Bunny TM / with YOSEMITE / SAM TM / 4 Knitting / patterns / for children and adults / BY GARY KENNEDY (INTARSIA UK) / TM & c Warner Bros. Inc. 1991. All Rights Reserved.fashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons

Eight page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features an image of the cartoon character Daffy Duck.front: [printed] 1089 / Patons / PRICE CODE K / Daffy Duck TM / with ELMER FUDD TM / 4 Knitting / patterns / for children and adults / BY GARY KENNEDY (INTARSIA UK) / TM & c Warner Bros. Inc. 1991. All Rights Reserved.fashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons

Eight page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features an image of Peanuts cartoon characters Snoopy and Woodstock.front: [printed] 1092 / Patons / PRICE CODE K / SNOOPY R / 4 Knitting / patterns / for children and adults / BY GARY KENNEDY (INTARSIA UK) / PEANUTS Characters: c 1958, 1965 United Features Syndicate, Inc.fashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons

Eight page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features an image of cartoon characters Sylvester and Tweety.front: [printed] 1093 / Patons / PRICE CODE K / SYLVESTER TM / and / Tweety TM / 4 Knitting / patterns / for children and adults / BY GARY KENNEDY (INTARSIA UK) / TM & c Warner Bros. Inc. 1991. All Rights Reserved.fashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons

Twenty four page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features a teenage boy wearing a knitted jumper with koala motifs.front: [printed] BOOK 903 / PRICE CODE D / Patons / AUSTRALIANA HANDKNITS / in TOTEM 8 PLY / for TEENAGERS & ADULTS / PURE NEW WOOLfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons

Sixteen page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features a child wearing red pants and a patterned yellow, blue and red knitted jumper.front: [printed] BOOK 957 / PRICE CODE D / Patons / Children's Handknits in / 5 PLY MACHINEWASH / or BLUEBELL 5 PLYfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons

Sixteen page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features a woman wearing a cream knitted cardigan with floral detail.front: [printed] 1001 / PRICE / CODE / H / Patons / H A N D K N I T S / BLUEBELL 5 PLY / 5 PLY MACHINEWASH / PURE NEW WOOLfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons

Fourteen page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features a woman standing in a street near a milk bar, wearing a pink skirt and knitted jumper.front: [printed] Just how many Hurry Knits / do Patons have? / 693 / PRICE / CODE / F / 1 / EASY / TO FOLLOW / PATTERNS / Hi!fashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons

Twenty page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features two children wearing knitted jumpers, with two puppets. Illustrations of a snake and possums are also shown on the cover.front: [printed] Patons / Possum's / PATTERN / IN 8 PLY TOTEM / PURE NEW WOOL / 635 / PRICE / CODE / F / the / NEIGHBOURHOOD / Claude the Crow, 'Ol Possum / Norm the Kangaroo, Stanley the Carpet Snake / cPUPPETSTUFF PTY. LTD.fashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons

Twenty page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and images. The colour cover features two school children wearing knitted jumpers.front: [printed] Schooldays / in Totem / Patons / Girl/Boy Totem, / Baroness Bri-Nylon / Book 978 / 40cfashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons